Esophageal basaloid squamous carcinoma (BSC) is a rare, aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma. BSC is usually diagnosed in advanced stage and its prognosis is relatively poor. A 59-year-old male with subepithelial lesion of the esophagus that was incidentally discovered during health promotion examination was referred to our hospital. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a 10-mm bulging mucosa with an intact surface at 34 cm from incisor teeth. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a smooth margined homogenous hypoechoic lesion, measuring 11.3×3.9 mm with a submucosal layer of origin. The patient underwent endoscopic mucosal resection of the subepithelial lesion. Pathologic examination of the resected specimen revealed BSC with involvement of vertical margin by tumor. The patient then underwent radiotherapy, and is doing well without recurrence for 35 months. We report a case of esophageal BSC confined to submucosal layer successfully treated with endoscopic resection followed by radiation.
Keywords: Basaloid squamous carcinoma; Endoscopic mucosal resection; Esophagus; Radiation; Subepithelial lesion.